This is the Storm of Spoilers episode for Season 6, Episode 7 "The Broken Man"

The North is reminded, but what the North remembers is that Robb royally screwed things up for the Starks in Westeros. This week, your three intrepid hosts try to make sense out of "The Broken Man," an episode that has book spoilers but also sort of doesn't. Jo and Neil tell Da7e how the Siege of Riverrun is going to play differently now that it's been relocated in time, everyone tries to put a good spin on Sansa's actions and REALLY REALLY interesting prospects for death in King's Landing. Also, Lyanna Mormont is the greatest and that just needs to be mentioned. Brother Ray, what say you?

I’m curious that you guys didn’t speculate about whether Brienne tells Jaime about the war that is about to take place in the North with Jon Snow and Sansa Stark at the head of an army. It seems that the shows inclination to mix together and change plot lines has introduced some paradoxes which could cause the universe to collapse in on itself if allowed to touch.

Also: in the world of the show, Brienne has battled and defeated the Hound in order to protect Arya – and has now pledged her sword and is in service to Sansa. As much as I like the idea of seeing a croaking Catelyn with a monstrous gash across her throat, the book logic of Lady Stoneheart being angry at Brienne for not fulfilling her vows just doesn’t make sense anymore. I’m afraid that lack of motivation leads me to proclaim: No Stone – Left Interred,

But I’ll climb on-board Joanna’s theory of Brienne potentially dueling Jaime because of his behavior in the Riverlands, because, I mean, who can resist the irony of Brienne killing Jaime with the Valyrian steel he gifted her?

I know the shows not aversive to killing off major house but could both Loras and Margery die? I feel like one of them has to live. I’d prefer Margery but for some reason I feel like Loras is going to be the one to live. Dany does need somebody to marry.

I’m a little disappointed in your analysis and speculation of Arya’s story line. It seemed like you guys were just kind of like “I don’t understand it so I don’t like it” and then didn’t even try to understand it at all.

OBVIOUS SPOILER TAG

I hoped that you would talk more about the possibility of Syrio Forel coming back since it could open so many questions about Arya’s purpose in the big picture and explain the Waif’s feelings towards her. To jump back a bit, there was a picture released of the Waif with a silhouette behind her that looked a lot like Syrio Forel, Arya’s water dancing teacher from season 1 who is originally from Bravos and who we never saw die. The actor who played him has also been hinting at his return/his actually being Jaqen. This made me really excited to find out what’s going on with Arya’s plot because I agree that it felt really off. But I also think there’s definitely a reason for it. My theory (which isn’t that crackpot, I swear) is that Arya and the Waif’s conflict is almost comparative (although loosely) to Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. Stay with me, it will make more sense in a second.

If Jaqen is Syrio (which we don’t know but my gut says it is a strong possibility after that picture and the actor talking about it) then his attention to Arya is very strange, unless she is someone very significant. What if there is another prophecy about a daughter of a nobleman from Westeros who is meant to come to the House of Black and White and do something or be something great? That sets up Syrio/Jaqen’s interest in Arya and also the Waif’s personal vendetta against Arya because she would want to be the “chosen one” for this prophecy, considering the Waif’s origin story of being from a noble house of Westeros (This is also where it falls away from Harry/Neville since Neville didn’t want to be the chosen one and neither one was aware of the prophecy). This whole thing could be a test to see who it is: Arya or the Waif. BUT since Syrio/Jaqen has so much interest in Arya it will be Arya who wins in the end. Self-fulfilling prophecy, a theme in the show now that time is a closed loop or whatever, and where it comes back to Harry and Neville since Voldemort chose Harry by accident. It’s really not that similar to Harry Potter, I just used it to help me explain.

It’s not so far fetched that there would be another prophecy in the show. There’s a ton of prophecies in the books, even one about Sansa, so why not one about Arya? It tracks with everything that’s happened on the show so far and they’ve kind of set up for it. What I’m still not sure about is how Arya survives the stabbing. Obviously she does, so it almost doesn’t even matter at this point.

Also in favor of this theory: this seems to be the season in whic everyone who we think is gone, comes back. See: Jon, Benjen, and the Hound…

Can’t wait to find out what actually happens and what you guys think of it.